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Live Reporting

Alex Pope

All times stated are UK

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  1. Goodbye

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    Well, that's it for this week on BBC Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks. 

    Our main stories of the day have been the local election results for Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, in which the Conservatives have added to their majorities. 

    We have also reported on a helicopter crash close to High Wycombe that's left three men needing urgent medical treatment. 

    You can of course read all the stories by scrolling through the page. 

    We'll be back from 08:00 on Monday, so whatever you're doing this weekend we all hope it's a good one. 

  2. Tories' vote share in East trumps national average

    Deborah McGurran

    BBC East political editor

    These elections have seen UKIP wiped off the county council political map. Most surprisingly, they lost every single seat in Essex, an area that fostered their growth and of course, until recently boasted their only MP. In all they lost 48 seats across the east and now have no representation across its six counties.

    The Conservatives appear to be the beneficiary. They have regained control of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and strengthened their grip on Essex, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire.

    Labour held on in some of its heartland seats but suffered elsewhere, particularly in Stevenage and Harlow, where the Conservatives made gains.

    Conservative candidate Dick Madden celebrates

    It was a mixed picture for the Liberal Democrats who lost seats on Essex, Suffolk and Northamptonshire but they made some gains from the Conservatives in Norfolk.

    The Green Party lost their stronghold in Norwich but made a gain in Suffolk where they now hold three county council  seats.

    The vote share from yesterday's local elections confirms that across the east the Conservatives are once again the dominant party.

    With all the votes counted, the Tories share of the vote ranged from 43% in Suffolk and Essex to a staggering 51% in Northamptonshire. The national average appears to be about 38%.

    Labour saw a small surge in support in its traditional heartlands and its average share across the region was 13.7%. But that's way below the national average of 27% and shows how little support the party has in our region.

  3. Hertfordshire's share of Conservative vote higher than national average

    In Hertfordshire, the Conservative party gained 133,577 votes in yesterday's local election - 46.05% of the vote.

    It's higher than the national projected vote share for the Tories, which stands at 38%.

    The projected national share figures are what the share of the vote would be if all parts of Britain had local elections and had voted in the same way as Thursday's English county council elections.  

  4. Weather: Mild tonight, cloudy and cooler tomorrow

    Alex Dolan

    BBC Look East weather

    This evening it will be staying mostly fine with some areas of cloud at times. One or two spots of drizzle possible overnight, but staying mild.

    Winds will be moderate, with lows of 7C (45F).

    Weather map

    It will be a rather cloudy start to the day tomorrow. Generally cloudier than today with some brighter spells, but feeling cooler.

    Winds light to moderate and highs of 10C (50F) on the coast and 14C (57F) inland.

    There's more at BBC Weather.

  5. Helicopter crash: 'Hero' paramedic praised

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    Investigations are now under way at the site of single squirrel helicopter crash at Wycombe Air Park, close to High Wycombe, this morning. 

    Helicopter investigations

    Three men are currently being treated in hospital and one man has life-threatening injuries.  

    Praise has been given to the emergency services who attended, as well as an off-duty paramedic who was on the site at the time and has been called a "hero".

    Helicopter crash

    Andy Nunnen, a ground services manager at the airfield who praised the paramedic for helping out, described hearing the fire alarm that alerted staff to a crash. 

    He said he then saw the helicopter on its side, with smoke coming out of its engine gear box area.

    Helicopter crash

    He said at first he felt "shock initially, but then the training kicks in and you've got to keep a calm head in that situation, and just make sure these people are OK". 

    "The helicopter itself it just a piece of machinery - it's the people that are inside that we were concerned for," he said.

  6. County council election: How the papers reported it

    The big story of the day in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire has been the local election results that have been coming in overnight and this morning. 

    Here's how the local papers have reported them. 

    • The Hertfordshire Mercury explains there were gains for the Conservaties and the Liberal Democrats at the expense of the Labour Party.
    • UKIP and Labour no longer represented at county council, is the focus for The Bucks Herald
    • While the Watford Observer features a leaflet row between councillors. 
  7. County council elections: Not the time to be 'complacent', says Tory politician

    Roberto Perrone

    BBC Three Counties Radio

    After taking an even larger majority on Buckinghamshire County Council, Conservative councillor Mark Shaw told me he's "delighted" with the Tory gains in the local elections. 

    He said he's "grateful" as his majority in Chesham increased by "400%". 

    He added that now was not the time to be complacent, as "what's really important as a party is that we don't go home tonight, put our feet up and ignore people over the next month - we have got to be out there campaigning and fighting for every vote [in the general election]".

    Local count in Buckinghamshire
  8. Bedford nightclub closed down after 'violent incidents'

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    A Bedford nightclub has been closed down after having its licence revoked. 

    Police called for a review after a number of violent incidents at Vibe on St Peters Street on 25 March. 

    Its license was initially suspended in March, but was taken away at a full review hearing this week at Bedford Borough Hall. 

    Vibe nightclub
  9. Vandals damage free library... again!

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    The wooden doors of Little Free Library in Bedford have been damaged by vandals.

    The structure is housed by the Kiosk At The Park in Russell Park and lets anyone add a book or take one away for free. 

    Little Free library damaged

    It's already had the plastic taken out of its doors and some books taken out to start a fire close by.  

    Emma Garrett, who runs the Kiosk, said: "It beggars belief, it's a lovely free community service and it's not doing any harm to anyone."

    Books

    The good news is the local community has rallied around to help and it's now been taken away to be repaired. 

    Children in front of the Little Free Library

    Emma said: "Every cloud has a silver lining. The upside is we've been offered help, more books as well as offers to fix it. 

    "We're now trying to come up with a foolproof solution to keep the library and not have to contend with people vandalising it."

  10. County council election: Tories take big majority in Bucks

    Andy Holmes

    BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

    That's it. 

    All the results are in for Buckinghamshire County Council. 

    The make up of the council is as follows: 

    • 41 Conservatives 
    • 4 Liberal Democrats
    • 2 East Wycombe Independents
    • 1 Labour 
    • 1 Independent  

    That means the Conservatives have increased their overall control by four. 

    The Liberal Democrats gained two seats in Aylesbury but lost their leader, Avril Davies, in Ivinghoe. 

    UKIP now have no seats at all after losing four.

    Turnout was 34.8%.  

  11. The Fellowship of the Ring

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    The power of social media has come together to help reunite a lost signet ring with its owner.

    Thomas Donnelly found the ring with the initials "RM" and "From Doreen 1956" in a taxi on Sunday night in Bedford.

    Ring

    He then shared a post on the internet, trying to locate Reg and Doreen.

    It was seen by a friend of the couple, which resulted in Mr Donnelly being able to return the ring to the couple of 60 years (below).

    Doreen and Reg

    He said: "I was more than happy to bring the ring to them, just to see the looks on their faces. 

    "They [Reg and Doreen] were both very emotional and touched about the generosity - it really made me feel good to help such a lovely couple. 

    "The ring clearly meant a whole lot more than its material value to them."

    It was Reg's signet ring and the "only ring he wears", Mr Donnelly told me. 

  12. Cobblers bag MK Dons winger Powell

    Northampton Town have announced the signing of MK Dons midfielder Daniel Powell on a two-year deal.

    Powell, 26, made more than 250 appearances for the Dons - scoring 46 goals - and will officially join the Cobblers after his deal with MK expires on 30 June.

    "I am delighted to welcome Daniel as our first signing this summer," said manager Justin Edinburgh.

    Daniel Powell

    "Despite only being in his mid-20s he has a wealth of experience in League One and the Championship and he provides qualities I feel we need more of in the squad."

    "He offers pace and width," Edinburgh added. "He is direct and he is a threat to defenders. He is unpredictable, he is the sort of player who keeps supporters on the edge of their seats and I think he is a very good signing for us.

    "We identified Daniel as one of our early targets and we are delighted to have secured this deal so early on."

  13. BreakingCounty council elections: Tories maintain control of Bucks

    Andy Holmes

    BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

    The counts are still coming in for Buckinghamshire County Council, but it's now confirmed that the Tories have maintained their overall control. 

    They currently have 27 seats - they had 36 before. 

    They could still get a few more as 18 seats are to be declared. 

    View more on twitter